WestEd

Article summary

WestEd is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization. The organization's mission states, "WestEd, a research, development, and services agency, works with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults." In 2013, WestEd's annual revenue was approximately $137 million, with over 530 clients and funders including the United States Department of Education, National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Justice, and many state, county, local, philanthropic, and business entities. WestEd has been vetted and approved as a qualified service provider in the following federal contracting programs: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Program Support Center (PSC) Task Order Contracts, and the General Service Administration's Mission Oriented Business Integrated Services (MOBIS) Schedule (SIN 874-1: Integrated Consulting Services). WestEd conducts various services – consulting and technical assistance, evaluation, policy, professional development, and research and development – aimed at supporting and improving education and human development.…

Key claims

1. date of establishment: 1966 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of establishment: 1965 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of formation: 1995 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. students: 400,000 students — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. students: 33,000 students — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of establishment is "1966". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of establishment is "1965". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of formation is "1995". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the students is "400,000 students". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the students is "33,000 students". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
8. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1375347256